Cleaning device



D. C. WILLIAMS CLEANING DEVICE June 4,- 1929.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i Filed Nov. 12, 1926 Bur/611607 5 wwwvikw June 4, 1929. D. CQWILLIAMS 1,716,018

' CLEANING DEVICE I Filed Nov. 12, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F J L Ira/avatar 31 fiauid L'Jfzllmm' 9 Patented June 4, 1929.

UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID C. WILLIAMS, MEDFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 EDWARD P. MOTLEY, 013 BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS.

CLEANING DEVICE.

Application filed November 12, 1926. Serial No. 147,916.

This invention relates to an improved type of broom brush, or the like and affords an inexpensive device of this character, the Wearing part of which may readily be replaced while the handle may be used for an indefinite period. A readily replaced broom head or brush unit of this type is particularly advantageous in factories, office building, or other large establishments where brooms are constantly being worn out and replaced. Not only does the provision of brooms with replaceable heads permit economy in the use of handles, as well as salvaging of broom units when handles are broken or split, but it also allows economy in storing and shipping quantities of brooms in their disassembled state.

The invention further discloses means perinitting the mutual separation or attachment of the handle and broom head with unusual facility and ease and without need of using special tools such as screw drivers, wrenches, etc. broom unit which may be inexpensively manufactured and which may thus have a nomi- 5 nal replacement cost. These various desirable attributes are attained without sacriticing the necessary qualities of durability and weal-ability which are essential in brooms used for commercial service.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the subjoined de-' scription and claims in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a broom illustrating the principles of the present invention; I

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4el of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank for making acasing for the broom unit;

Fig. 6 is a view of the blank as it is partially folded;

Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 and showing still another form of the invention; and

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the handleengaging element.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for purposes of illustrating the invention, the improved broom comprises a handle 1, one end of which is split at 2 to provide the simi lar portions 3 disposed at either side .of cas- 55 ing 4c of a broom unit or head, designated in Furthermore, the invention discloses a general by the numeral 5. Adjoining the inner end of the split 2 the outer surface of the handle is tapered as designated by the numeral 6 and is surrounded by a metal ring 7 to preventfurther splitting of the handle.

Fig. 5 illustrates the blank for making the casing 4:, the central portion 17 of which is adapted to form the upper surface of the completed casing and is of substantially rectangular form. Aligned with either end of mid-portion 17 are extensions 18 which are adapted to form the endsof the completed casing. The blank is split as designated by the numerals 19 to provide substantially trapezoidal wings 20 at either side of the cen- 7 tral portion 17 these wings 20 being adapted to form the main side wings of the casing and to abut the side of the fibrous material or bristles which are ultimately retained therein. At either side of the extensions or ends 18 are the wings 21 which are adapted to be folded in as indicated in Fig. Gto provide overlapping portions at-either side of the casing and to have their edges 22 lying in close parallelism with the surface of the handle extensions 3, which are tapered as shown. These portions of the handle are bent in a.

steam chamber or otherwise to present the form disclosed in Figs. 2 and 3 so that the inner surfaces of the split portions will firmly engage the casing.

Metal loop members 26 are provided to engage with the tapered extremities of the handle. As disclosed in F ig. 7 each member 26 may be conveniently formed of sheet metal and have an intermediate outstanding loop substantially to conform to the tapered ends of the handle with flat sheet metal extensions 28 at either side, which are adapted to be disposed between the overlapping wings 20 and 21 of the casing 4: (Fig. 3)

As thus assembled the parts of the casing maypreferably be provided with suitable bristles or other. outstanding materials to comprise a broom, or brush as desired and the fibrous material and the overlapping casing wings as well as the extensions of the metal loop members maybe retained by a suitable number of wirestaples 29 or other, inexpensive fastening means which pass therethrough. WVhilethe casing 4; may be formed of many convenient materials, fiber board or heavy pasteboard is an especially satisfactory material, since it is inexpensive and is soft'enough to permit the embed-ding of the staples in its surface as well as the inward pressing of the handle portions 3 into its surface as designated by numeral 39 in order more firmly to engage with the same. Furthermore, the fibrous wings may be adhesively secured to each other as well as to the bristles, which is particularly advantageous during the temporary assembling of the unit before the staples are inserted. The fibrous material in conjunction with the metal loops affords a lightcomposite structure combining the desirable mechanical properties of both the fiber board and metal to provide a unit stronger and more satisfactory than could be manufactured of either material alone. If desired, rather than bending the handle portions 3, suitable wedge-shaped elements 31 (Fig. 7) may be inserted between the broom unit and handle portions 3 or may be secured upon either the broom unit or the handle to facilitate firm engagement of the parts.

The broom unit and handle are readily as sembled merely by forcing the handle ends into firm engagement with the loops 26 and the adjoining fibrous sheet while when it is desired to detach the broom unit from the handle the former is forced .out of the split portion by pushing or tapping the top 17 of the casing. These operations do not require tools of any sort and do not require unusual exertion upon the part of a user or assembler of the broom.

Obviously a broom of the type disclosed herein is adapted to permit a distinct reduction in sweeping costs in large establish ments where a large amount of hand sweeping is necessary and the cost of brooms, brushes, or the like is an important factor. The units are relatively inexpensive and occupy but a fraction of the room of a complete broom and therefore may be shipped and stored at a considerable less cost while the cost of a new handle is avoided whenever the broom unit is worn out, thereby permitting a marked saving.

I claim:

1. An article ofthe class described. comprising a detachable brush unit and handle, said handle being formed of resilient material and having a divided end to grip the brush unit, and means for forcing the end portions inwardly upon the brush unit, said means comprising downwardly and inwardly tapered outer surfaces upon the split end of the handle and downwardly and inwardly tapered elements on the casing to be driven upon the tapered surfaces.

2. An article of the class described comprising a detachable brush unit and handle, said brush unit comprising fibrous material and a casing of yieldable sheet material engaging the fibrous material, said handle being formed of wood and having a resilient split end, the brush unit being adapted to be engaged in the split end and to force the engaged portions of the handle outwardly, whereby the resilience of the wood effects a gripping engagement of the unit by the handle, the split end portions of the handle having downwardly and inwardly tapered outer surfaces and downwardly and inwardly tapered holding elements upon the casing adapted to engage these tapered handle portions when the latter and the casing are driven together.

3. A unit for brooms and the like comprising fibrous material, a casing holding one end of the fibrous material and being adapted to be secured to a handle, said casing being formed of sheet material having a central portion in juxtaposed relation to the end of the fibrous material and having opposed pairs of depending wings folded over into engagement with the fibrous material, lateral extensions of certain wings being overlapped by other wings, loops for engaging handle portions, said loops having extensions disposed between said overlapping parts of the casing sheet, and a plurality of fastening elements passing through opposite sides of the casing and the fibrous material therebetween, said fastening means holding said loop extensions in place.

at. A unit for brooms and the like com prising fibrous material, a casing holding one end of the fibrous material and being adapted to be secured to a handle, said casing being formed of fibrous sheet material having a central portion in juxtaposed relation to the end of the first-named fibrous material and having opposed pairs of wings engaging the first-named fibrous material, and lateral extensions of one pair of wings overlapped by another pair of wings, outstanding sheet metal loops of tapered cross section, for engaging handle portions, said loops having extensions disposed between said overlapping parts of the casing sheet, and a plurality of wire staples passing through opposite sides of the casing and the fibrous material therebetween, said staples holding said loop extensions in place.

5. A unit for brooms or the like comprising fibrous cleaning material and a casing of fibrous sheet material, said. casing having a central portion juxtaposed to the end of the cleaning material, a pair of comparatively Wide wings depending from the central portion at opposite sides of the cleaning material, narrow wings depending from the central portion and disposed between the wide wings, lateral extensions upon the latter in overlapping engagement with the wide wings, and fastening means passing through the wide wings, the lateral extensions and the cleaning material.

6. An article of the class described comprising a handle and brush unit, the latter comprising fibrous cleaning material and a firm engagement with the sheet material, and depressions formed in the latter by the ex- 10 tensions, whereby said extensions and easing are held in interfitting relation.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 10th day of November, 1926.

DAVID C. WILLIAMS, 

